“What have you been doing all day that I have not had even a
glimpse of you?” asked Somebody, as the boy named Billy came in,
looking rather hot and dusty, one Saturday afternoon in June.
“Better go bathe your face at my wash-stand and then come and
tell me what’s been so interesting--baseball or fishing.”
“Neither baseball nor fishing,” said the boy named Billy, “but
it’s been lots of fun just the same. I’ve been helping the ladies
over at the church put up the flags and bunting for decorations
and to fix up the pulpit with palms and potted plants; Bob
White’s been helping, too; we’re the tallest boys in Sunday
School. Tomorrow is Children’s Day, you know. What’s the meaning
of Children’s Day and do they always have it? I don’t seem to
remember anything about it before this year.”
“That is because you are older now and able to help,” said
Somebody. “It used to be the custom for each church to have
Children’s Day at any time in the year that was most convenient
for them, but back in 1883 the Presbyterian Church said, ‘This
scattering Children’s Day all over the year is not right and must
stop--let’s all get together and agree upon one particular day
and keep that and celebrate it!’ And all the other Churches saw
the sense of that so they agreed on June--the second Sunday in
June, as being warm and sunny weather with flowers blooming and
everyone able to get out.”
“But where did the idea of Children’s Day come from?” asked the
boy named Billy.
“It probably grew out of that wonderful saying of Our Savior:
‘Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not, for
of such is the kingdom of heaven,’” said Somebody.